Gruene Hall is the oldest continually operating dance hall in Texas.
Gruene Hall part of Texas’ musical history, still launching careers
Not much about Gruene Hall has changed since the building went up in 1878. Its architecture is pretty much the same, and it remains a watering hole and popular music venue in a state known for its musical talent.
And it’s still hosting some of the top acts in the industry, with the likes of Merle Haggard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Bo Didley, Willie Nelson, Rodney Crowell and Garth Brooks using it as a stopping-off point during their tours. It also continues to launch new careers, just as it did for George Strait, Lyle Lovett and Hal Ketchum.
Gruene Hall is located in the little town of Gruene (pronounced “Green”), Texas, which today is part of New Braunfels, and it’s busy at any time of the day or night. Getting this image required a lot of patience, as a steady stream of cars and people made it difficult to get an unobstructed view.
The music venue, which serves as the hub for a bustling tourist community in the old central district of the town along the banks of Guadelupe River, has been featured in books including Pat Green’s Dancehalls & Dreamers, Gail Folkins’ Texas Dance Halls: A Two Step Circuit, Vokac’s The Great Towns of America and Schultz’s 1000 Places to See Before You Die.